Hot Topics:

As trade talks quiet, Fowler still a Rockie

Phillies, Reds interested in CF

By Troy E. Renck The Denver Post

Posted:
12/06/2012 11:04:12 PM MST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There was no news conference at the Opryland Resort announcing a big Rockies trade. No massive roster reconstruction. That bid to make a splash ended when Rockies executives headed to the airport with Dexter Fowler in center field and Michael Cuddyer in their lineup.

It doesn't mean trade talks have died. The Cincinnati Reds still have interest in Fowler, and the Atlanta Braves can't be ruled out.

But as hotel workers tore down the Major League Baseball backdrop on the stage Thursday, news broke that the Philadelphia Phillies had acquired a center fielder.

Since they traded Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers, they seemed like a potential fit for Fowler. And anyone who watched one inning of Rockies' baseball last season knows Colorado can use better pitching. Vance Worley was available, representing a potential starting point in discussions.

Worley, indeed, was shipped out. But not for Fowler. Try Ben Revere.

Come again?

The Phillies acquired the speedy young center fielder from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Worley and highly regarded pitching prospect Trevor May. Seeing the names involved, it immediately looked like a missed opportunity by the Rockies.

Fowler is a good player, even if his home-road splits scare off some suitors. Getting two potential rotation arms for him would seem hard to pass up, even if the predictability of young pitchers at Coors Field is mind-numbing.

Advertisement

Heck, I would have considered moving Cuddyer for Worley straight up in an old-fashioned baseball trade.

This much is known: The Rockies talked with the Phillies. However, discussions never got serious where names were exchanged. That happens. Teams have preferences. It is allowed. Revere is less expensive, a much better base-stealer than Fowler and a strong defender. But he doesn't reach base more often than Fowler, and doesn't have any power.

Fowler is in the arbitration process, due to make between $4.5 million and $5.5 million this season. He's streaky offensively. He has an All-Star upside.

Could the Rockies have pressed to get this deal from Philadelphia? Perhaps. But they've been consistent, telling teams that they have to take their players, that they aren't giving anyone away. That means the Rockies want a monster return for Fowler, conjuring up images of the Matt Holliday deal to the Oakland Athletics.

For Cuddyer, it would be far less. However, the Rockies have trepidation going too far down that path because they don't know if Todd Helton is coming back. If he doesn't, suddenly their outfield lacks depth because Cuddyer would play primarily at first with Tyler Colvin in center or right. Still, Philadelphia needs another outfielder, and given what they just paid for Revere, the Rockies have to pick up the phone.

The key now is to be proactive, taking a cue from the Twins. The Twins' deals shipping out center fielders Denard Span (to the Washington Nationals) and Revere were aggressive, landing them much-needed pitching. Minnesota was one of the few teams in the big leagues with as many issues on the mound as the Rockies last season.

I would expect the Rockies to restart talks with the Atlanta Braves. It appears that getting Julio Teheran or Randall Delgado would not be a problem. But Mike Minor is not happening, so where else can the talks go to gain traction?

The Tampa Bay Rays have a stockpile of young arms, including Jeremy Hellickson and Wade Davis. But the Rays are in the middle of the complicated, multi-team talks involving the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks involving All-Star Justin Upton. The Cincinnati Reds still need a leadoff hitter, but as of now the two sides are not close on a deal.

With health, as manager Walt Weiss has said, the Rockies' rotation will improve next season. But they can't bank on that. The pursuit of another starter needs to continue in earnest with the winter measured, in large part, on that result.

Notable

Former Rockies fan favorite Ryan Spilborghs agreed in principle on a one-year contract with the Seibu Lions in Japan. Said Spilborghs: "I am really excited about the opportunity. I have been studying Rosetta Stone, trying to get the language down. So far I can say, 'The boy is eating.'" ... The Rockies named Glenallen Hill their Triple-A manager, where he will be joined by longtime hitting coach Dave Hajek. The Rockies are in the process of shifting roles and responsibilities in their minor league system. Doug Linton and Bob Apodaca will serve as minor league pitching coordinators, working with director Mark Wiley. No Double-A manager has been named, but Duane Espy will remain involved with the Tulsa club. ... Colorado has begun signing minor league free agents. The list includes catcher Gustavo Molina, pitchers Justin Berg and Jeff Manship and infielders Hernan Irabarren and Henry Wrigley.

Local duo joining overseas exhibition excursionFilippo Swartz went to Italy, where his mother was born and he spent the first year or so of his life, every summer until he had to stick around to be a part of summer football activities for the Longmont High School team. Full Story

MacIntyre says the completed project will be best in Pac-12There were bulldozers, hard hats, mud, concrete trucks, blueprints, mud, cranes, lots of noise and, uh, mud, during the last recruiting cycle when Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre brought recruits to campus. Full Story

Most people don't play guitar like Grayson Erhard does. That's because most people can't play guitar like he does. The guitarist for Fort Collins' Aspen Hourglass often uses a difficult two-hands-on-the-fretboard technique that Eddie Van Halen first popularized but which players such as Erhard have developed beyond pop-rock vulgarity.
Full Story